Since Los Angeles was the first US city to embrace sushi back in the 1960s, it makes sense that it’s become one of the first locations for  Blue C Sushi — a  restaurant seeking to shatter our perception of “mainstream” sushi while maintaining a pulse on food culture.

Sure, sushi and more specifically ‘cut rolls’ are already available in every suburban shopping center and convenience stores across the country. However, never before has a concept been bold enough to push the mainstream line past the spicy mayo, cream cheese and imitation crab and into the borderline offensive for sushi purists.

Let me explain. Blue C’s new Hollywood menu includes the following items: BLT Roll, Loaded Baked Potato Roll, Edamame Puree Dip, Potato Katsu, Smoked Yellowfish Tacos and Tuna Tostadas. It would be one thing, if these menu items were all hype and didn’t live up to expectation. But they did, and were delicious.

All of the aforementioned items have two things in common. First, all of these menu items have included some element of mainstream American food. Bacon. Loaded Baked Potato. Dip Appetizers. An Asian-influenced take on Potato Tots. The taco. (If you don’t believe the taco is and/or has been a mainstream American food, please read Gustavo Arellano’s Taco USA or comprehend the BILLION DOLLAR sale mark of the Doritos Locos Tacos). The second thing? Blue C takes these food staples and finds a way to introduce flavors most of us have never had before.

Check out the photos of everything we tried at the grand opening of Blue C Sushi’s first Californian location in Hollywood.

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Edamame Puree (Dip)

The traditional edamame appetizer and its blasé spicy compatriot don’t make the cut compared to this Edamame Puree. Why? Because you can dip things in it. They should really make a spicy one though.

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Spicy Tuna on Crispy Fried Rice

One of my favorite dishes of the night. Crispy Fried Rice squares lightly fried topped with the ever-so-popular (and rightly so) Spicy Tuna.

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Smoked Yellowtail Tacos

Blue C sushi-fied the Fish Taco with lightly smoked but still raw Yellowfish, a take on Guacamole and a light and crisp outer shell. An item you have to try.

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BLT Roll + Tuna

Our readership will love this dish for the mere fact that it’s bacon in sushi. While one of the more novel and headline worthy menu items, not as packed full of flavor as many other dishes.

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Hama Chili – Yellowtail + Ponzu + Jalapeno

Another “must-have” when you’re ordering. This was the dish that I felt legitimized Blue C culinary offerings past its newsworthy concept. The fish was fresh and delicately grazed with Ponzu.

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Potato Katsu

Blue C’s pank0-crusted take on American tater tots. Served with katsu sauce, I wish I could snack on these everyday.

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V-8 Roll

Tempur’d green beans, cucumber, avocado, gobo, root and topped with a Pico de Gallo. The V-8 continued the trend of using Latin influences (guacamole, taco, etc) with the Pico, and was decently executed. An interesting take on a vegetarian roll.

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Tuna Tostada

Flavorful tuna with a crunch. Not too much to describe here, it tastes as good as it looks.

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Shishito Peppers

Shishito peppers seem to consistently be added to pan-Asian menus everywhere. While they never really help alleviate your hunger, it is a great way to diversify the flavors of your order. We also noticed that every once in awhile, you would get a really spicy one. Almost like pepper roulette.

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Salmon Roll

Standard Sushi Fare. Held up.

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Loaded Baked Potato Roll

The ideation of this menu item alone is almost worth the hype this item will receive. I don’t see many people passing on the chance to try a Loaded Backed Potato Roll.

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Blue C Sushi

The Dome Entertainment Center

6374 W. Sunset Blvd.

Hollywood, CA 90028